Flexible casing for vehicle springs



April 26, 1932- A. c. SOLOMON 1,855,893

FLEXIBLE CASING FOR VEHICLE SPRINGS Filed March 28, 1929 4 INVENTORATTORNEY Patented Apr. 26, 1932 FLEXIBLE CASING FOR SPRINGS Applicationfiled March 28, 1929. ,iSerial No. 350,508.

This invention relates to flexible casings for vehicle springs of theleaf type and has for its object to provide a casing which isinexpensive to manufacture, yet which is durable and efiectivelyprevents the entrance of dirt or moisture While retaining the lubricantabout the spring.

A further object is to provide the casing with novel oiling-means forsupplying oil to and distributing it along the spring.

A still further object is to provide novel means for securing the edgesof the casing together to hold it about the spring.

In general the invention resides in all the novel features ofconstruction of the spring casing herein disclosed and particularly setforth in the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the casing secured inplace about a spring;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the spring casing showing how the edgesare secured together; Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the casingand oil reservoir on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4: is a fragmentarylongitudinal section through the device on line 44 of Fig. 3.

In the form of my device illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 10designates the casing broadly, which is preferably constructed of awater proof fabric and comprises a main portion 11 and a flap portion12. The main portion 11 of the casing is made of a single piece ofmaterial slightly wider at one end than at the other, with its sideedges provided with hems to receive resilient wires 13 for the purposehereinafter set forth. Through the middle of the portion 11 are twoparallel tucks 15 spaced apart the width of the spring on which thecover is to be used. Where the cover is to be used on springs which haveclips to prevent separation of the leaves the tucks 15 are not stitchedat that point so that an excess of material 16 is left to fit aboutthese clips.

The tucks are made with the folded portion on the inside of the casing,so as to pro vide a channel in which is positioned a strip of felt orother absorbent material 17 which extends the length of the casing whichis clamped to the top of the spring when the casing is secured in place,Across each end there is secured to the inner side of the portion 11felt strips 18 which absorb any excess oil that may run along the springand which serve to more effectively seal the ends of the casing aboutthe spring to prevent the entrance of dirt;

At one side, either as a continuation of the material from which theportion 11.is made, or as a separate piece attached thereto is the flap12 over which the opposite side of the portion 11 folds when the casingis see cured about a spring. The flap closes the space between theedgesof the cover portion 11 which are arranged underneath the spring.

An oil reservoir 20 having the form of a long fiat opentop pan issecured by rivets 21 with its open top against thefelt strip 17 and isarranged to extend between the tuck 15 with its fiat bottom resting onthe top of the spring about which the casing is secured. A suitable oilinlet member 22 is provided in the casing 11 above the reservoir 20 sothat oil may be supplied .to the reservoir from. time to time, thespring pressed pivoted cover 23 which is normally closed prevents theentrance of dirt therethrough- To secure the casing about the spring oneside of the portion 11 just behind the wire member 13 is provided withhooks 25. The opposite side is provided with short flexible wires 26each of which has one end secured about the wire 18 in that side.

When the casing is engaged over a spring the fiap 12 is folded under thefree edge of the body portion 11, and the sides of the portion 11 aredrawn together and the'wires 26 secured about the respective hooks 25.The wires 13 distribute the pull of the Wires on the hooks 25 throughoutthe length of the cover and permit the cover to accommodate itself towhatever shaped spring it is secured about, since the wires 13 arecapable of being flexed in any direction, allowing for i springs ofvarious curvatures as well as permitting the sides to be drawn closertogether in some places along the length of the casing than in others toallow for irregularity about the spring, such as clips, etc.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A flexible casing for vehicle springs comprising a flexible bodyportion, means for securing it about a spring, a strip of absorbentmaterial extending longitudinally of said casing and adapted to rest onthe upper surface of the spring, an oil reservoir comprisin a fiat panmember open at one side, secure to the underside of said absorbent stripwith its open side thereagainst and with its flat bottom adapted to reston the spring, said casing being provided with an opening above saidreservoir through which oil may be supplied, and means for closing saidopening.

2. A flexible casing for vehicle springs comprising a body portion,parallel seams extending longitudinally thereof with the excess goodsfolded to the inside, said seams defining the top edges of said casingwhen secured about a spring, and a strip of absorbent materialpositioned between said seams and extending the length of the casing,the excess goods forming a channel into which said strip fits. v

3. A flexible casing forvehiclespringscoinprising a body portion,parallel seams extending longitudinally thereof with the excess goodsfolded to the inside, said seams defining the top edges of said casingwhen secured about a spring, a strip of absorbent material positionedbetween said seams and extending the length of the casing, the excessgoods forming a channel into which said strip fits, and an oilreceptacle having one open side, secured with said open side against theunder face of said absorbent strip, whereby oil which is placed in saidreceptacle will splash against said absorbent strip and be distributedalong said spring.

' In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

ARTHUR o. soLoMoN.

